In MLB, nothing is certain—one moment everything is going to pace and the other it all falls apart. Ask the Arizona Diamondbacks! They have played the last 161 games brilliantly over the last six months, but now whether they get to play on their seventh month is a mystery waiting to be unraveled. They lost terribly to the San Diego Padres with a 5-0 score at Chase Field, and now are in a tight spot. The post-season hopes—well, that’s just hanging by a thread. They still have a chance to make it to the playoffs as a Wild Card, but it all depends on what happens on Sunday, and that too if they get any help from the Mets!

If Arizona wins the regular-season finale, they need luck from the Mets losing to the Braves or the Brewers. A loss, however, could finish it all if the Mets add another win. Talk about bad timing to get into a slump for Arizona, it’s even worse than when Aaron Judge got into a slump this season for a good 16 games! After the devastating loss to the Padres in the last game, the Arizona Diamondbacks manager, Tory Lovullo, had a stern message for his team. 

Arizona Diamondbacks postseason hopes hang in the balance

Just last week, the Arizona Diamondbacks seemed to have their plan sorted and were headed to the postseason. Now things look shaky since they lost five of the last six games! They have gone from being in control to wanting help to make it further. Tory Lovullo best summed up the precarious situation they are in, “We’ve got to get it to turn. We got one chance tomorrow, and we got to go out there and find a way to make that worm turn.” Game 162, is their last shot, they need to give everything if they want to move forward. 

The hopes were that Saturday’s game would be great for the Arizona Diamondbacks, which didn’t work out. The Padres already had the top NL Wild Card spot, and they have rested half their regular players and gave a start to Randy Vasquez. It was good news for the Arizona Diamondbacks, but underestimating Vasquez was a big mistake. He just shut them down and allowed just one hit and a walk in over six innings. 

The D’s struggled to find their footing and in the end, Luvullo felt that the hitters were trying too hard. Lovullo had a strong message for his hitters, “My message would be, if I were speaking to the players right now, is just go out there, control the zone, control the at-bat by controlling the zone, don’t try and do too much. Don’t try to be the hero.” The manager also mentioned that as a team, they are a strong offensive force, but needed to take it easy on the plate.

Torey Lovullo eyes Zac Gallen for season finale 

For the Arizona Diamondbacks, everything is on the line as they head into their season finale. With Brandon Pfaadt taking the mound, all eyes will also be on ace Zac Gallen, who could be called in relief if the situation demands it. Winning alone won’t be enough for the D-backs—they need both the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets to lose to secure a Wild Card spot.

The stakes are high, but the uncertainty around Pfaadt’s recent struggles adds even more pressure. Over his last three starts, Pfaadt has surrendered 19 earned runs, putting the team in a difficult spot. Meanwhile, Gallen, who would be stepping into unfamiliar territory as a reliever, has solid stats, with just one earned run and 11 strikeouts in six innings during his last outing. Manager Torey Lovullo hinted that Gallen, despite lacking experience in relief, is ready if necessary. It’s a move that signals the urgency of the moment.

While Gallen could provide the boost Arizona needs, the challenges are plenty. Gallen has never pitched in relief, and the Diamondbacks’ reliance on multiple arms has already put significant strain on the bullpen, adding another layer of complexity to their strategy. It’s a delicate balance—every decision in this game could be the difference between a postseason run or going home empty-handed.

The Diamondbacks probably didn’t envision battling a slump at such a crucial point in the season, but now they’re left with no choice but to fight through it with everything they have. With the entire season hanging in the balance, the right strategy could be their ticket in—or their last misstep could spell the end. Do you think they can make it? Let us know in the comments below!